The survey was conducted about two years ago,by volunteers from California Human Development in Santa Rosa. CEO Chris Paige explains that his organization also had a hand in developing the questions that were asked.

The biggest surprise in the survey's findings for Paige was the high number of respondents who consider Sonoma County their permanent home.

Because so many of the farmworkers (71%) are living here with their families, their children are also affected by the households' very low incomes. For health care providers such as Bo Greaves, senior medical director for Santa Rosa Community Health Centers, that means the education of those children is paramount for their long-term health.